Adapter for Use With a Mop

ABSTRACT

An adapter for connecting a mop frame to a fluid source is provided. The adapter includes a hollow substantially tubular connector portion with a swivel joint at a mop frame connection end, an elongated hollow body portion with a locking tab at each end and a central opening to receive the swivel joint of the tubular connector portion and the locking tabs at the opposed ends of the body portion biased outwardly for selective engagement to the mop frame and for rotation of the mop frame about the axis of the body portion. In addition, a steam mop frame and adapter for connecting the mop frame to a fluid source is provided. The steam mop and adapter includes a steam mop frame having receiving openings for engaging a connector, a hollow substantially tubular connector having a connector portion with a swivel joint at a mop frame connection end, an elongated hollow body portion with a locking tab at each end and a central opening to receive the swivel joint of the tubular connector portion, and the locking tabs at the opposed ends of the body portion biased outwardly for selective engagement to the mop frame and for rotation of the mop frame about the axis of the body portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to an adapter for use with a mop, andmore particularly to an adapter for connecting a mop frame to a fluidsource.

Wet and dry mops have been widely used for cleaning floors. A type ofwet mop is a steam mop, which works as a steaming device.

Steaming devices used to apply steam to household objects are wellknown. The uses of the devices vary widely, and may include theapplication of steam to drapes or other fabrics to ease wrinkles, andthe application of steam to objects to assist in cleaning the objects.

Typical steam devices have a reservoir for storing water that isconnected to an electrical water pump with an on/off switch. The exitfrom the electric water pump is connected to a steam boiler with aheating element to heat the water. The heated water generates steam,which may be directed towards its intended destination through a nozzlewhich controls the application of the steam. Variation of the shape andsize of the nozzle allows for preferred distribution of generated steamto an object to be cleaned. The nozzles may be disconnectable from thesteam generator to allow different nozzles to be utilized, based on theobject to be steamed. The nozzle may be either closely coupled to thesteam generator, or located at a distance from the steam generator,requiring tubing or other steam transfer structures to be interconnectedbetween the steam generator and the discharge nozzle.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an adapter for connecting the anozzle or mop frame to a fluid source for changing the angle between thehousing and frame, to provide a full range of steering and one thateasily disconnects from the mop frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an adapter forconnecting a mop frame to a fluid source in a mop housing is provided.The adapter includes a hollow substantially tubular connector portionfor connecting to the mop housing and an elongated hollow body portionwith a locking tab at each end and a central opening to receive theconnection joint. The connector portion has at the connection end aswivel joint end. The swivel joint is a rotatable swivel joint to permit360 degree rotation between the connector portion and the body portion.The locking tabs are biased outwardly for selective engagement to themop frame and provide for rotation about the axis of the body portion.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an adapter thateasily connects and disconnects a mop frame to a fluid source.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adapter that allowsfor easy and user friendly angle change between the mop housing andframe.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an adapter thatprovides a full range of steering for mop frames.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part beobvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises a product possessing the features,properties, and the relation of components which will be exemplified inthe product hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention willbe indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing(s), in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an adapter and frame constructed andarranged in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are right side elevational views of the adapter FIG. 1in an upright and rotated position, respectively;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation a view of the adapter of FIG. 1 showing thelocking tabs;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are plan views of the adapter showing how the adaptermay be rotated in respect to the mop frame;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the adapter mounted on an oval shapedmop frame in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the adapter mounted on a triangularshaped mop frame in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an adapter 11 constructed and arranged in accordancewith the invention mounted on a mop frame 12. Here, adaptor 11 includesa hollow tubular connector portion 13 and a hollow body portion 14.Connector portion 13 has a proximal end 13 a that connects to a mophousing pipe and a distal end 13 b with a swivel joint 18 that connectsto an elongated hollow body portion 14.

Elongated hollow body portion 14 includes a central opening 17 (notshown) for fluid passage and receives swivel joint 18 of proximal end 13b of tubular connector portion 13. Each end of body portion 14 includesa locking tab 16. Swivel joint 18 permits side to side and 360 degreerotation between tubular connector portion 13 and elongated hollow bodyportion 14. This gives a user greater control of mop frame 12 and allowsthe user use of both sides of mop frame 12 for cleaning.

Mop frame 12 includes an upper surface 12 a, an opposed bottom surface12 b, a front wall 12 c, a rear wall 12 d, a right side wall 12 e and aleft side wall 12 f as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show side views of adapter 11 mounted on mop frame 12.These figures show how tubular connector portion 13 may be rotatedaround the axis of body portion 14 with respect to mop frame 12. Thisprovides a user with an easy and a user friendly angle change.

FIG. 3 shows adapter 11 with two side tabs 21 that engage with mop frame12. Locking tabs 16 on hollow body portion 14 that control side tabs 21.As shown, a pair of locking tab springs 19 bias locking tabs 16outwardly from body portion 14 to engage receiving opening in framed 12.When a user sides locking tabs 16 toward tubular connector portion 13,side tabs 21 retract so that adapter may be easily inserted into orremoved from mop frame 12. Similarly, when a user releases locking tabs16 springs 19 urge locking tabs 16 outwardly so that side tabs 21 engagereceiving openings in mop frame 12. In one embodiment, each locking tab16 may have a depression 22 to facilitate the contraction of lockingtabs 16 for the removal of adapter 11 from mop frame 12.

FIG. 4A shows that tubular connector portion 13 of adapter 11 may rotate360 degrees to the right as shown by arrow A with respect to mop frame12 that is substantially rectangular in shape. FIG. 4B shows thattubular connector portion 13 of adapter 11 may rotate 360 degrees to theleft as shown by arrow B with respect to mop frame 12. This permits auser to use the top or bottom of frame 12 for cleaning.

FIG. 5 shows adapter 11 mounted on a football or oval shaped mop frame31. FIG. 7 shows adapter 11 mounted on a triangular shaped mop frame 41.

Adapter 11 provides many advantages for ease of use because it easilyconnects and disconnects to a mop handle and a mop frame. Here, the userhas more control over the angle and movement of the mop frame to cleanwhatever areas that need to be clean. In addition, the mop frame may berotated so that the user may use both sides of the mop frame to clean.Further, adapter may attached to any variety of differently shaped mopframes.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above product without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes of the invention.Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of theinvention.

1. An adapter for connecting a mop frame to a fluid source, comprising:a hollow substantially tubular connector portion with a swivelconnection end; an elongated hollow body portion having a central axiswith a central opening along the length of the hollow body portion toreceive the swivel connection of the tubular connector portion; and thelocking tabs at the opposed ends of the elongated body portion biasedoutwardly; whereby the adapter can be selectively engaged to a mop frameand for rotation of the mop frame about the axis of the body portion. 2.The steam mop of claim 7, wherein the mop frame is substantiallyrectangular in shape.
 3. The steam mop of claim 7, wherein the mop frameis football shaped.
 4. The steam mop of claim 7, wherein the mop frameis substantially triangular in shape.
 5. The adapter of claim 1, whereinthe locking tab includes a spring for biasing the tabs outwardly toengage the mop frame.
 6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the locking tabincludes a depression to facilitate the removal of the adapter from themop frame.
 7. A steam mop frame and adapter for connecting the mop frameto a fluid source, comprising: a steam mop frame having receivingopenings for engaging a connector; a hollow substantially tubularconnector having a connector portion with a swivel joint at a mop frameconnection end; an elongated hollow body portion with a locking tab ateach end and a central opening to receive the swivel joint of thetubular connector portion; and the locking tabs at the opposed ends ofthe body portion biased outwardly for selective engagement to the mopframe and for rotation of the mop frame about the axis of the bodyportion.
 8. The steam mop frame and adapter of claim 7, wherein thelocking tab includes a spring for biasing the tabs outwardly to engagethe mop frame.
 9. The steam mop frame and adapter of claim 7, whereinthe locking tab includes a depression to facilitate the removal of theadapter from the mop frame.
 10. An adapter for connecting a mop frame toa fluid source, comprising: a hollow substantially tubular connectorportion with a swivel connection end; an elongated body portion having acentral axis with a central opening to receive the swivel connection ofthe tubular connector portion; and locking tabs at the opposed ends ofthe elongated body portion biased outwardly whereby the adapter can beselectively engaged to a mop frame for rotation of the mop frame aboutthe swivel connector and about the axis of the body portion for improvedsteering capability.
 11. The adapter in claim 11, wherein the lockingtab includes a spring for biasing the tabs outwardly.